Flood detector



March 26, 1968 M. R. ZAWACKI FLOOD DETECTOR Filed Oct. 21. 1965 FIG.2.

inventor: Mari'i n RZriwacki B (b R-torneys 4 a How 5 Mm 0 ll ov Qo o Q Q I I v c Ill Q HUI 2 IIIIIQ 3 5 T 3 UP United States Patent Ofiice 3,374,764 Patented Mar. 26, 1968 3,374,764 FLOOD DETECTOR Martin R. Zawacki, 1857 W. Cullerton St-, Chicago, 111. 60608 Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,692 3 Claims. (Cl. 116-109) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A flood detector for detecting and warning of flood conditions or leakage by the actuation of a bell mechanism having a bell dome covering a rigid frame housing a spring, gear and escapement mechanism for oscillating a bell clapper to strike the bell dome. An absorbent pad is spaced below the frame and a U-shaped spring has an upper arm secured to the frame with the spring located between the frame and the absorbent pad. One arm of the spring terminates in a tongue and the other arm terminates in a bifurcated end that receives the tongue, and a disintegratable wafer is positioned between the tongue and bifurcated end. When released by disintegration of the wafer, the upper arm lifts a release pin to allow the bell clapper and arm to oscillate and strike said bell dome thus providing an audible warning signal.

The present invention relates to a novel flood detector, and more particularly to a mechanically-actuated signalling device for detecting and Warning of flooding or leakage from water or other liquid.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel flood detector which is light in weight and portable so that it may be utilized in any room in a home or other location. In view of the extensive damage which often comes in a home due to flooding by rain or overflow of water tanks, water softeners, bath tubs, toilets, sinks, Washing machines, etc., it is an object of the present device to detect the initiation of flooding conditions and provide a warning or alarm so that flooding may be brought under control before extensive damage occurs. This unit can also be utilized to detect flooding from liquids other than water.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a flood detector which can be utilized in the home and includes a fuse member which will release a switch or trigger upon being wetted to actuate an alarm bell or other signalling means capable of warning of the flooding condition. The device includes a pad which will absorb water and wet a fuse formed of a water soluble or disintegratable material which decomposes when wetted. The fuse will release a spring arm to actuate a bell hammer or clapper which strikes a bell dome that covers and encloses the actuating mechanism for the hammer.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a flood detector having a manually actuated spring wound ratchet arrangement actuating a rocker arm or escapement mechanism carrying the hammer to ring the bell. Movement of the hammer is blocked by a rod carrying a stop block which is released by movement of a spring arm of the trigger when the wetted fuse disintegrates.

Further objects are to provide a structure of maximum simplicity, efliciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of the flood detector assembly.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view of the flood detector assembly taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the ends of the triggering spring in inactive or spread position.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein is disclosed-an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 discloses a flood detector 10 including a rigid frame formed of upper and lower plates 11 and -12 joined together in vertically spaced relation by suitable securing means such as bolts 13 extending through the plates and threadingly engaging internally threaded spacer rods 14 separating the plates. Two or more brackets 15 are secured by flanges 16 to the lower plate 12 by suitable securing means; each bracket having a mounting flange or base 17 containing an opening 18.

A generally circular absorbent pad 19 is removably secured to the flanges 17 through the use of spread fasteners 21 which may be easily removed and/ or replaced. A bell dome 22 is formed of a size to encompass and shield the rigid frame and assembly including the absorbent pad 19 with the lower edge 23 of the bell spaced above the plane of the lower surface of the pad. The bell not only forms the enclosure for the mechanism, but also provides an alarm bell or signal for warning when flooding conditions occur. The bell dome 22 is secured to a center support rod 24 by a handle 25 having a screw threaded stem 26 engaging a threaded opening in the rod 24. The rod is suitably centrally secured to the upper plate 11 of the frame.

The mechanism for ringing or striking the bell dome 22 includes a hammer or clapper 27 mounted on a curved arm 28 (FIG. 2) which terminates at its opposite end in a rocker arm or escapement 29 pivoted on a vertical rod 31 which is rotatably mounted in the plates 11 and 12. The ends 32 of the escapement 29 engage with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 33 mounted on a rod 34 rotatably mounted between the plates. A smaller gear 35 is spaced above the ratchet wheel 33 on the rod 34 and meshes with a large gear 36 mounted on a vertical shaft 37 rotatably mounted in the frame; the shaft 37 extending upward through the dome to terminate in a winder key handle 38 (FIG. 1).

A spiral coiled spring 39 encompasses the shaft 37 with the inner end of the spring secured to the shaft and the outer end 41 of the spring secured to the adjacent spacer rod 14 (see FIG. 2). When the spring 39 is wound up by clockwise rotation of the key and gear 36 (see FIG. 2), release of the gear will cause rotation of the ratchet wheel 33 to cause oscillation of the escapement and hammer. The ends 32 of the escapement alternately engage and ride up the surfaces of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 33 resulting in oscillation of the arm 28 and hammer 27; oscillation of the escapement, curved arm 28 and hammer causing the hammer to strike the bell dome 22 and signal and alert the occupant of flooding conditions.

To prevent actuation of the hammer until required, a release rod 42 is mounted for limited vertical reciprocation by means of one or more stops 43 mounted on the rod 42; the rod extending through the dome and terminating in an enlarged knob or handle 44. Adjacent the opposite end of the rod 42 and normally horizontally aligned with the curved arm 28 is an enlarged stop block 45 located to prevent oscillation of the curved arm by the escapement mechanism. The lower end 46 of the rod 42 extends through and projects beyond the lower plate 12 (FIG. 1).

A generally U-shaped spring 47 has an upper arm or trigger 48 secured to the lower plate 12 by suitable securing means, such as rivet 49, and a lower arm 51 lying along the top surface of the pad 19. The lower arm 51 terminates in a tongue 52 of reduced width, and the upper end terminates in a downwardly extending bifurcated portion 53 having an outwardly extending bifurcated end 54 parallel the upper arm 48. The bifurcated portion 53 and end 54 have suflicient space between the bifurcations to encompass the tongue 52. A fuse 55 formed of a water soluble or readily decomposable wafer or pill, such as an aspirin tablet, is positioned as shown in FIG. 1 with the bifurcations on the end 54 retained below the tongue 52 by the fuse 55. Also the trigger 48 is vertically aligned with the projecting end 46 of the release rod 42.

Considering the operation of the detector 10, with the fuse 55 in position, the spring 39 is wound up by rotation of the key 38 and the release rod 42 is positioned with the stop block 45 preventing movement of the curved arm 28. A clutch mechanism could be utilized between the shaft 37 and the gear 36 to allow the winding of the spring 39 without rotation of the large gear 36 or ratchet wheel 33. Then the device is positioned on the floor or other suitable location where flooding is most likely to occur. When water is present on the floor or flooding occurs due 7 to overflow, etc., the absorbent pad 19 absorbs the water and causes dissolution or disintegration of the pill or wafer forming the fuse 55. Disintegration of the water releases the spring 47 and the trigger 48 springs upward to abut and lift the release rod 42. Movement of the rod lifts the stop block 45 to allow oscillation of the hammer 27. The spring 39 in unwinding causes rotation of the ratchet wheel 33 through the gear train which in turn causes rocking movement of the escapement arm 29 which oscillates the hammer to strike the bell dome 22 sounding an alarm so that the flooding condition can be corrected.

I claim:

1. A flood detector comprising an alarm mechanism enclosed by a bell dome, said alarm mechanism including a hammer mounted for oscillating movement to strike said bell dome, means to effect oscillating movement of said hammer, a reciprocable release pin mounted adjacent the hammer and having an end portion depending below said alarm mechanism, a stop block mounted on said release pin and adapted to be normally aligned with said hammer to prevent actuation thereof, an absorbent pad axially spaced and mounted to said mechanism below said bell dome, and trigger means mounted to said mechanism between said alarm mechanism and said absorbent pad and held in an inactive position by a disintegratable detent means, said trigger means including a horizontally positioned U-shaped spring member having an upper arm portion and a lower arm portion, said lower arm portion lying on said absorbent pad and terminating in a narrow tongue, and said upper arm portion aligned with the depending end of said release pin and terminating in L- shaped bifurcated end portion adapted to receive said tongue .therebetween, said bifurcated end portion extending downwardly perpendicular to said upper arm portion and outward generally parallel to but spaced below said tongue when said detent means is positioned between said tongue and end portion and contacting said absorbent pad.

2. A flood detector as set forth in claim 1, in which said detent means comprises a water soluble tablet, and said upper arm portion of the trigger means when released by disintegration of said detent means due to moisture absorbed by said pad flexes upwardly to lift the release pin to move said stop block and release said hammer.

3. A flood detector as set forth in claim 1, in which said oscillating means includes a spiral coiled spring operatively connected to a rotatable shaft, a gear on said shaft rotated by unwinding of the spring, a ratchet wheel driven by said gear, and pivotally mounted escapement oscillated by said ratchet wheel, said hammer being mounted on a curved arm terminating in said escapement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 705,990 7/1902 Yon 116-111 1,112,226 9/1914 Miller 116-106 2,469,528 5/ 1949 Suma 11691 2,625,902 1/ 1953 Sorensen 116106 2,659,333 11/1953 Davis 11691 2,740,371 4/1956 Nelson 116-118 2,871,815 2/1959 Krieger 116106 3,012,536 12/1961 McCleaSe 116-118 3,161,175 12/1964 Taylor 116--118 LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner. 

